Office



(No Model.)

A. M. BOOS.

PICTURE EXHIBITOR.

Patented Feb. 15, 1887..

m IR o INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

I ARTHUR M. 13008, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

PICTURE-EXHIBI TOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.357,757, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed April 528, 1886. Serial No. 200,436.. (X0 model.) 1

T0 or whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. Boos, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Picture-Exhibitor, of which the following'is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to exhibitors for showing pictures-such -as photographs-and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of this character, which may be very easily handled to allow pictures to be viewed with greater comfort than by handling an ordinary album, and will present a highly-finished appearance.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts of the picture-exhibitor, including a peculiar construction and marking of the pictureholding slides, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which-- Figure l is a perspective View of my im proved pictureexhibitor. Fig. 2 is a view of the picture-case with its cover open and in transverse section, and the pictures removed from one division of the body of the case. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional elevation ofthe picture-case in vertical position, one of the picture-slides having just fallen from position to view its pictures through the glazed openings in the side of the case. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of the case, showing one of the slides held in position to view the pictures at the glazed case-opening. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of an end portion of the picture slides or holders. Fig. 7 represents one of the gravitating catches and its bearings removed from the picture-case; and Fig. 8 is a face View of the cover side of the case, drawn to a smaller scale.

The pictnre-holding case A of the exhibitor is provided with fixed opposite end studs or gudgeons, a a, by which the case is journaled in the forked or slotted upper ends of the side posts, I) b, of an ornamental stand, B, and the studs (thEtVB ornamental heads, which may be grasped conveniently to slowly rotate the case A on the stand.

The picture-case A is made with a main body portion, A, andacover or lid, Aihinged together by hinges a a, and provided at the opposite end with any suitable cover, latch, or fastening. In the side of the case-body A there are provided two rectangular openings,

V V, and in the side of the cover A are made two oval or vignette openings, D D, which openings are glazed, as at c d, respectively, and through which the pictures may be viewed at each half-revolution of the case A, as presently explained.

In the case-body A are fitted the cross-pieces e e,to which are fixed the opposite ends of a partition, E, which is narrower than the depth of the picture-holding space of the case A,and is placed centrally in the case to provide a space at each edge of said partition, through which one of the pictureholding slides F may pass. The exhibitor shown has thirteen of these slides; but the case may be made deeper orshallowerto accommodatealarger or smaller odd number of slides, as desired.

In recesses a a in the inner faces of .the body A and cover A of the case A there are pivoted the gravitating picture-slide-holding catches G H, respectively, the catch-pivots i being formed, preferably, on the ends of .opposite metal blocks, I I, let in fiush with the face of the case, along which the picture-slides F move. The catches G H are tapered toward one edge, and are provided, respectively, at their thin edges with lips g and it, one at or near each end, and all projecting inward toward the center of thecase to form rests, onto which the pictureslides may fall to be supported -in front of the glazed openings 0 D of the case, and the catches have stop-lugs g h, respectively, which rest against the back wall of the recess a, when the catches swing outward to let the slides F pass by them, and stop against plates J, let in flush with the face of the case, when the catches swing inward to support the slides, as presently described.

The inner faces of the parts A A of the case A are provided with strips K, of felt,

against and along which the picture-slides F may fall, and pieces k, of felt, are applied in the recesses a" and on the plates J, against which the catch stop-lugs g h strike, and the corners of the slides F are provided with strips f, of felt, these fabrics K k f insuring the practically noiseless operation of the slides-in the case.

I have devised a system of marking the picture-holding slides F, whereby the pictures will be exhibited in regular order, and those which may be viewed to best advantage in the rectangular and oval openings of the case will so appear, as follows:

The thirteen slides F will be lettered from A to M, inclusive, and slides A to G, ,jnclusive, will be placed in the division of the case A nearest the operator when the cover is swung open toward the right hand, as in Fig. 2, and the slides H to M, inclusive, will be placed in the other division of the case, the slides A H being next the side of the case wherein the rectangular openings are made and the catch G is fitted, as shown in Fig. 3. The pictures 0 will be placed in the slides,

- right edge up, with the letters on the slides,

and the two pictures placed back to back in each of the two openings of the slides will be of a character at one face of the slides to look best at the rectangular openings 0 G of the case A, while the pictures at the other faces of the slides will be of a class looking best at the oval or vignette openings D D of the case.

\Vhen the slides are placed in, the case A, as above described, and the cover A is securely latched, and when the case is turned on its studs a a in direction of the arrows lin Figs. 3 and 4 the first effect will be to cause,

the series of slides M L K J I H to fall toward the case-cover A and as the turning of the case continues the catch G will swing inward, so that its lips 9 will catch the slide A, which falls in front of the square opening 0 as the case assumes the angle shown in Fig. 4, in which position the case may be held to conveniently view the pictures in slide A as long as desired. These pictures being the first coming to view the face of slide A next the opening 0 is stamped with the numeral l. A further rotation of the case, bringing it about to or a little past the vertical position, will cause the catch G to drop back by ts gravity and let theslide A fall over the slide H, and at the same time the slides B O D E F G will fall to the bottom of the casebody A and the catch H will swing inward to cause its lips It to project to receive the slide M, which falls in front of the oval openings D, which then face the operator, and as the pictures in that face ofv slide M are the second set to come to view that face of this slide is stamped with the numeral 2. On the next half-turn of the case A the slide B falls onto the lip g of catch G, in front of the square openings 0 G, and this outer face of slide B is stamped with the numeral 3. The next half-turn of the case brings the slide L onto the lips h of catch H, and in front of the oval openings D of the case, and this outer face of the slide L is stamped withthe numeral 4-. The next half-turn of the case brings the slide 0 onto catch G, in front of the case-openings O, and this outer face of slide 0 is stamped with the numeral 5. The next half-turn of the case brings the slide K onto catch H, in front of openings D, and this outer face of slide K is stamped with the numeral 6. The next halfturn of the case brings the slide D onto catch G, in front of case-openings O, and this outer face of slide D is stamped with the numeral 7. The next half-turn of the'case brings the slide J onto the catch H, in front of the caseopenings D, and this outer face of slide J is stamped with the numeral 8. The next halfturn of the case brings the slide E onto the catch G, in front of the case-openings O, and this outer face of slide E is stamped with the numeral 9. Thenext half-turn of the case brings the slide I onto the catch H, in front of the case-openings D, and this outer face of slide I is stamped with the numeral 10. The next half-turn of the case brings the slide F onto the catch G, in front of the case-openings O, and this outer face of slide F is stamped with the numeral 11. The next half-turn of the case brings the slide H onto the catch H, in front of the case-openings D. and this outer face of slide H is stamped with the numeral 12. The nextlhalf-turn of the case brings the slide G onto the catch G, in front of caseopenings 0, and this outer face of the slide G is stamped 13, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The pictures 0 at one face ofall the slides have now been viewed, and by continuing the forward turning of the case A in direction of arrow 1 the other faces of the slides will be presented at the case-openings in the following order: Slide A on catch H, at the openings D, and this face of the slide is stamped 14. Then slide M on catch G, at the openings 0, and this face of slide M is stamped 15. Then slide B appears, and is stamped 16; then slide L, which is stamped 17; then slide 0, stamped 18; then slide K, stamped 19; then slide G, stamped 20; then slide J, stamped 21; then slide E, stamped 22; then slide I, stamped 23; then slide F, stamped 24.; then slide H, stamped 25; then slide G. stamped 26, and all the pictures at both sides of the picture-slides F have been viewed.

The pictures at the faces of the slides which are stamped with the odd numbers always appear at the square or rectangular openings 0 of the slides which are stamped with the even numbers always appear at the oval openings D D of the case A.

By placing the pictures 0 in the slides F, in accordance with the numbers stamped on the faces of the slides and then by placing the slides in the case A in regular alphabeticalorder, as described, the pictures may be viewed successively in any desired order of precedence, and if no particular numerical order is desirable the pictures viewed best at the square case-openings G will be placed at the faces of the slides stamped with the odd num- (J of the case A, and the pictures at the faces bers, and the pietures viewed best at the oval openings D will be placed at the faces of the slides stamped with the even numbers, and considering the various postures and sizes of photographed figures it may be that asuitable numerical order of the pictures maybe obtained with their arrangement to appear at the openings 0 or D, whichever may be preferred.

I make the picture-slides F of three cross pieces or plates, ff f of wood, which are connected at the ends by metal strips f, bent inward at the ends around the corners of the slides, as at J, and the felt piecesf may be held to the corners of the slides by the same pins, f, which fasten the metal borderstrips f" to the cross-bars of the slides.

The opposing edges of the slide cross-pieces ff f are. grooved, as at L, to receive the pictures 0, and at one face of the slides the tongue forming the groove L is cut away or notched next the metal strip f as at Z, Figs' 2 and 6, to allow two pictures, 0, placed'back to back, to he slipped into the slide-grooves L, through these openings ll, and when the pictures pass the lower metal strip, f", they will spring inward by their elasticity, with their opposite ends between the strips f f at the top and bottom edges of the slides, and cannot drop out.

The pictures may readily be removed by pushing their ends next the notches Z Z out beyond the edge of the adjacent stripf, when they may be slipped from the slide.

The picture-case A will preferably be covered with plush or some other ornamental fabric, as at R, and the mountings a a and stand B will be made highly ornamental, whereby a very handsome appearance is given the exhibitor, fitting it for a place on a drawing-room table. The devieeis superior to ordinary bookalbums and is much less cumbersome when viewing the pictures, and the side openings and interior catches and slides may be arranged to view photographic pictures of various sizes, and the exhibitor may be made in large size to be turned by machinery for displaying advertisements at advantageous places.

I am aware that a revoluble picture-exhibitor has been divided into upper and lower compartments and having glazed openings in its opposite sides communicating with said compartments. A sliding partition separated the two compartments and was ofless width than the compartment, so as to allow the picture-holders to pass from one compartment to the other to be viewed through the glazed openings therein. was fixed and the pictures were caused to pass fromone chamber to another by reversing the case or exhibitor; also, that a system of slides has been used to force the picture-holders from one compartment tothe other, and I do not claim the same as of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

In another form the partition.

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A picture-exhibitor comprising a case, A, a central partition, E, fitted therein and with a space at opposite edges, and said case having openings at opposite sides, through which the pictures may be viewed, and gravitating catches G H, pivoted in the case and provided with lips g h, respectively, which support and release the picture-slides as the case is rotated bodily, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a picture-exhibitor, the combination, with the case A, having side openings, a partition, E, and recesses a,of gravitating catches G H, pivoted in said recesses, and provided, respectively, withlips'g h and lugs g h, and stops J in the case against which the lugs g it fall, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the revoluble caseprovided with openings in its opposite sides and with a transverse partition, space being left between the sides of the case and the opposite edges of the partition, of the gravitating catches pivoted at their upper and lower edges, respectively, to the inner faces of the sides of the casing, above and below the openings therein, the said catches being constructed to alternately swing inward at.

their free edges to support the pictures as the casing is revolved, and 'to swing outward to allow said pictures to pass from one side of the partition to the other in the further revolution of said casing, substantially as set forth.

l. In a picture-exhibitor, the combination, with the case A, provided with a partition,

E, and gravitating catches G H, and picture.

holding slides F, placed in the case, of the noise-deadening fabrics K, placed at opposite sides of the case, substantially as herein set forth. I

5. In a picture-exhibitor, the slides F, composed of the vertical cross-pieces f f f, having vertical grooves L in their adjacent edges, and notches l,leading outward from one end of each groove, and the horizontal top and bottom strips, f, secured to the opposite end of the said cross-pieces, substantially as set forth.

6. A pictureexhibitor comprising a case having rectangular openings Cat one side and oval or vignette openings D at the opposite ,side, a partition, E, and gravitating catches G H, fitted in the case, and a series of pictureholding slides in odd number and marked alphabetically in the order in which they are placed in the case, and also marked numeri- ARTHUR M. Boos.

\Vitnesses:

Hans ULLMANN, JosEPH E. EwELL. 

